BET Adds More Thea to Weekends; ION Upfront To Be Held May 1, Minor Schedule Change

Thursday, March 06, 2008

BET Adds More Thea to Weekends; ION Upfront To Be Held May 1, Minor Schedule Change

As you all know BET has added the short-lived 1993-94 season sitcom Thea to weekends along with short lived 1980 sitcom Sanford. Thea is airing Saturday nights at 3am and Sunday afternoons at 12pm...with Sanford as its lead-in both times (2:30am and 11:30am). Now BET has announced it will air more Thea! Effective this Saturday (March 8), BET will air Thea also Saturday mornings at 9am and 9:30am, replacing Diff'rent Strokes. This is not a big loss for Diff'rent Strokes because the Saturday airings were only repeats of Monday's airings, and Strokes will still air weekdays from 9-10am.
As for Thea, we will now get two episodes a week rather than just one. 9-10am episodes are two new episodes and they will repeat one each on Saturday night at 3am and Sunday at 12 noon. So, if you're DVRing, TiVoing, recording Thea, back-to-back 9-10am Saturday mornings is your best bet.
Don't forget also to tune in this Saturday from 10am-11pm for the Sanford marathon as we set our clocks San"forward" for the spring, as all 26 episodes of the short-lived revival series starring Redd Foxx will air, including the three-part pilot episode.

ION Media Networks, Inc. announced today that it will display its new programming and marketing initiatives for the 2008-2009 television season at its second annual Upfront sales presentation. The event, aimed at the advertising community, will be held on the evening of Thursday, May 1st at the New York Public Library.
ION Television recently announced it will be adding the hit series Boston Legal to its Fall 2008 primetime lineup. Also coming to the network will be the timeless comedic drama, M*A*S*H.
ION Television already has made some significant additions to its primetime schedule in 2008, launching the beloved sitcom, The Drew Carey Show, on New Year's Day, and debuting the multi-generational TV staple, Baywatch, earlier this week. Original movies from RHI Entertainment, such as Journey to the Center of the Earth and Aces 'N Eights, set to premiere March 15th, also have contributed to the increased excitement at the network in the first quarter of the year.
Meanwhile, due to low ratings, ION has canceled the infomercial program Firebrand TV. Firebrand took a curated approach to Madison Ave., selecting flashy spots from blue-chip advertisers ranging from Coca-Cola to 24 Hour Fitness. The show was airing weeknights at 11pm and it will be replaced with real infomercials now starting Monday (March 10). No joking.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Wednesday, December 7

The Conners - "The Dog Days of Christmas" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
The holidays are approaching and Dan meets his mother-in-law for the first time. Elsewhere, Darlene helps Becky with a parenting problem.

The Golbergs - "Worst Grinch Ever" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Sleigh bells are ringing! When Erica buys a festive baby toy, Beverly goes full on Grinch in an attempt to steal Christmas. Meanwhile, Adam discovers some surprising information about Brea, and the JTP host their first holiday party.

Abbott Elementary - "Holiday Hookah" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT)
On the last day of school before winter break, Janine is convinced by her friend to go to a popular Hookah Club where she runs into unexpected colleagues. Elsewhere, Jacob crashes Barbara and Melissa’s traditional holiday dinner and in the process begins to learn the true meaning of Christmas.

Home Economics - "Santa Suit Rental, $25 Per Day" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
The most wonderful time of the year brings some unforeseen financial troubles for one member of the Hayworth family. With the help of the entire brood and some holiday magic, the Hayworths are reminded that there’s nothing better than being home for the holidays.

Tyler Perry's House of Payne - "Mr. Bills" (BET, 8:00PM ET/PT)
When Curtis throws a fit about all the money he and Ella are spending, he implements drastic cost-cutting measures; things backfire when Ella follows his direction and begins cutting back on the things he enjoys.

Tyler Perry's Assisted Living - "Fight the Power" (BET, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Phillip has been very responsible and begs to drive Jeremy's new car; Jeremy gives him the opportunity to drive, Philip wrecks Jeremy's new car after a night out with his friends.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of December 5)

Wednesday, December 7

Will Ferrell (The Office/The Oblongs) - Watch Will on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Lil Rel Howery (Rel/The Carmichael Show) - Lil Rel appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Kumail Nanjiani (Bless the Harts/Silicon Valley) - Kumail is a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Lisa Ann Walter (Abbott Elementary/Emeril/Life's Work/My Wildest Dreams) - Lisa will be on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
Zoey Deutch (The Suite Life on Deck) - Zoey gives details on the new movie Something from Tiffany's on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Mindy Kaling (The Mindy Project/The Office) - Mindy dishes on how she's gearing up for the holidays with her two young children, her new book studio and more on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Don Cheadle (The Wonder Years/Black Monday/House of Lies/The Golden Palace) - Don will be on The Jennifer Hudson Show, so check your local listings.
Whoopi Goldberg (Whoopi/Bagdad Cafe) - Whoopi sits down with Sherri to discuss her new holiday movie, A New Orleans Noel, book, Two Old Broads and her LEGENDARY Christmas sweater line on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Judy Greer (Reboot/Kidding/Married/Mad Love/Miss Guided) - Judy talks about Reboot on E! News on E! at 11:30pm.
Liza Lapira (9JKL/Cooper Barrett's Guide to Surviving Life/Super Fun Night/Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23/Traffic Light) - Liza is a guest on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:40am.